Amen Thompson Admits Draymond Green's Defensive IQ Is Elite

In the NBA, it can be challenging to be a good defender. The league is jam-packed with talented offensive players, who make the defenders look silly. That is not the case with players like Green and Thompson. They have managed to lock down their matchups.

Of course, there are games when the offensive players are too good, but most of the time, they are making a defensive impact. Thompson is a smart defender, but he primarily utilizes his physical gifts to be a top-tier defender. That is not the case with Green, who is not an elite athlete.

Thompson Is Always Impressed With Green's Defensive Impact

As a defensive-minded player, Thompson loves studying the game. He wants to learn his opponents' tendencies, so he can apply that to how he guards them during games. That is a sign of him being a student of the game, which has led to him finding the best tidbits of defensive play.

That is where he can appreciate Green and his impact on the Golden State Warriors. Most casual basketball fans might always make fun of Green and his impact on offense. However, they should never discount his defensive versatility and impact.

After Stephen Curry, Green is probably the most important player over the past decade under Steve Kerr. Green is fantastic with his defensive playmaking, as he could legitimately defend every position from point guard to center.

That is why Thompson keeps watching him because he has learned so much from Green's defensive IQ.

"I feel like what makes the best defenders good is their IQ. I'll give Draymond some credit. We play Draymond, and you know, he's not super athletic," Thompson on The Young Man and The Three.

"Obviously, he got long arms, but he's not gonna wow you athletically. But he's talking all the time. He'll put himself in that position knowing you're gonna do something and then bounce back to that position and get a steal.

"I feel like the best defenders, they kinda play offense on defense, if you know what I mean."

The Thompson Brothers Are Two Of The League's Best Defenders

Amen is not the only elite defender in his family because his brother, Ausar, plays for the Detroit Pistons as their primary defensive stopper. He is also just as athletic as his twin brother and possibly a better defender.

Throughout their careers, Amen has been the flashier player, who loves to get up to dunk the ball or block shots. Ausar is also a super-athlete, but he is more foundational with his defense, as he loves defending in the post and grinding out a game.

With their love for studying the game, they have learned from players like Green. That is a compliment for Green, as he has become the icon for defenders in the modern age. That also proves that he might be an unpopular figure amongst the fans, but his impact is undeniable.